MSR - FreeLite 2

Ah, shame! I’m 5ft 6in and would expect to be able to sit up in one of those (at least cross legged in the middle) for cooking in the porch etc. Did you try without the sleeping mat inflated - that looks a good couple inches? Glad the rest of the tent was roomy enough. Did you take one dog or two? Impressive feast for dinner! I bet the Scottish cheddar weighed more than the tent 😉 Edit to add: I have the original MSR FreeLite 2P. 3 season, but have used in winter in Scotland (and other mountainous parts of UK). Did get covered in a snowdrift once, very cosy, and luckily has 2 doors so could still get out in the morning! Always wondered if I should get a proper 4 season. If I do, will probably go for MSR Access

I have a 3P one door big Agnes that is plenty big but only has one door. It’s light and holds two wide sleeping mats. I’ve had it for at least ten years and thanks to the footprint it is still in great shape. I wish it had a second door though. I have an MSR semi free standing 2P Freelite. It has two doors and packs super light and pretty small. It’s luxurious for one person but two would be a little tight. With two it needs standard width sleeping pads. For a slight weight penalty I have a Marmot lightweight 2P two door. It’s the most comfortable but a bit heavier. Maybe the limelight? The big Agnes or the Limelight are my preferred with a partner and the MSR when solo or when partnered for long trips. If I were to buy new now and only have one, I’d probably do the Marmot Super Alloy semi free standing (similar to the MSR but a bit more room I think) or a Big Agnes two door lightweight model like the Tiger Wall or Copper Spur. Which of these last two is lighter.

I don't hate my lunar solo, but I wouldn't say I love it either. Sure its large for the kind of tent it is, but a lot of that room isn't usable - like my dog is right against the outside wall. The bathtub part is pretty hard to get right, and takes a lot of faffery, for often no gain. Its not that light, nor does it pack that small for what you get. Don't get me wrong, I think the value is there, in terms of cost vs weight vs usability, its for me the kind of tent I take on one or two night trips but since I've bought a MSR freelight I just take that because it weighs almost the same and I am biking so I carry a pole for t he solo.

I have never gotten a 'good pitch' of the bathtub despite trying many different iterations of how to pitch it. The best I've gotten was using a height adjustable Durston pole. I've never gotten wet because of a bad pitch either, but condensation is a thing with this tent, and a good pitch helps with airflow. Nothing like having those bottom vents pointing at the ground. I use the 2 person version of the freelite so no! The walls are quite steep on the solo version so it might not feel cramped, but cannot confirmed. Its really a matter of the lunar solo and the pole and stakes is not that much lighter than the 2 person freelite... Maybe shelling out for a fancy dynema tent like the solo makes the comfort sacrafice worth the weight savings?

I do a few national trails in the Uk, and fit them in when I can. That might mean a train after work, and starting till 8pm or later, last one I started walking at 9:30pm and by nearly midnight had covered 8-miles of mostly canal path. I went past a few decent spots early on then nothing for ages. Eventually found a crappy pitch with no decent pegging, I set off again at 07:00. Wouldn’t have been an issue in my free standing tent, sadly I took a single hoop, and thank goodness it was dry. It certainly allows more freedom in pitch choice. Which the situations you describe might well occur. Have even used the inner indoors just to deter flies/midges. Currently I’m replacing my tent. Hubba Hubba Bike pack 1 is preferred, or possibly msr freelit.

Yes the Freelite is semi, the Hubba Hubba is closer to fully free standing. Still needs the odd pen for fly. It’s not perfect. Freelite is 750g, I don’t see a shelter at 150g except maybe a tarp but then that’s a whole different proposition. Sure the Hubba Hubba adds 600g to a tarp/pole based solution. But if comparing it to no bug net there are significant differences in comfort. And we each have different comfort/discomfort levels.

MSR makes a 1p that is under 2 lbs and the poles are super small. I have a MSR 2p now as I don't care about weight. I used the 1p on my first outing and it was very awesome. MSR Freelite https://cascadedesigns.com/products/freelite-1-person-ultralight-backpacking-tent?_pos=3&_fid=c788cde60&_ss=c